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As a homeowner in Epping, the last thing you want is to discover pests in your home, but the even worse scenario is misidentifying them. Carpenter ants and termites may look similar, but they are different in many ways, including their size, color, habits, and behavior. In this article, you will learn the key differences between carpenter ants and termites and how to tell them apart to prevent and control them.
The first step in preventing and controlling these pests is to know how to identify them. Carpenter ants are larger in size, ranging from ¼ to ½ inch long, and are black or red in color with a distinct waist. On the other hand, termites are smaller, usually, less than 1/4 inch long, cream-colored, and have a straight waist. Another difference is their wings. Carpenter ants have two sets of wings, with the front pair being longer than the hind pair, while termites have four wings of equal size.
| Characteristic | Carpenter Ants | Termites |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Large, dark-colored ants with narrow waist and bent antennae. | Light-colored insects with straight antennae and broad waist. |
| Habitat | Live in wood and construct nests inside of it. | Live in and feed on wood, construct underground colonies. |
| Damage | Hollow out wood for their nests, causing structural damage. | Eat through wood, causing extensive damage to structures. |
| Wings | Have wings, swarmers can fly. | Have wings and can fly. |
Carpenter ants and termites have distinct habits and behaviors that set them apart. Carpenter ants tunnel through wood to create galleries and dispose of the wood particles outside the nest. Unlike termites, they do not consume wood. Termites consume the wood to get the cellulose, leaving behind a smooth, hollowed-out surface. Carpenter ants are active at night and are attracted to sweet substances like honeydew, fruits, and nuts. On the other hand, termites are active all day and feed on wood and other cellulose-based materials.
Carpenter ants can weaken the structure of your home over time, but the damage is not as severe as termites. Termites are responsible for billions of dollars in damage each year in the United States due to their wood-consuming behavior.
To prevent carpenter ants and termites from infesting your home, eliminate moisture sources, seal cracks and crevices in your home’s foundation, remove any rotting wood, maintain proper ventilation in crawl spaces, and make sure that wood debris is not in contact with the soil. If you suspect an infestation, it’s important to contact a professional Epping pest control company for proper identification and treatment.
Carpenter ants and termites can cause significant damage to your home, but with proper identification and preventative measures, you can protect your property. By understanding the key differences between carpenter ants and termites, you can take the necessary steps to keep your Epping home pest-free. If you think you have either of these wood-destroying pests, contact Identify Pest Control right away.
Getting rid of unwanted pests is easy when you call Identify Pest Control! Follow these simple steps for a one time service or you may choose to be protected all year long!
If you think that you have pests in your home, give us a call right away. We’ll be over within 24 hours or less to take a look free of charge!
One you call us, we’ll come over quickly to take a look and give you a thorough inspection of your home inside and out to see what we are dealing with.
Once we throughly inspect your home, we’ll come up with a comprehensive plan to rid your home of unwanted intruders and prevent them coming back.
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